Psalm of the Day: Psalm 147:1-20
Wisdom of the Day: Proverbs 15:24-33
Scripture Reading: Luke 11:21-26
Let us observe how strongly our Lord teaches the impossibility of neutrality. He says, "He who is not with me is against me; and he who gathers not with me scatters." The principle should be constantly remembered by all who make any profession of decided religion. We all naturally love an easy Christianity. We dislike collisions and separation. We like, if possible, to keep in with both sides. We fear extremes. We dread being righteous overmuch. We are anxious not to go too far. Such thoughts as these are full of peril to the soul. Once allowed to get the upper hand, they may do us immense harm.
Nothing is so offensive to Christ as lukewarmness in religion. To be utterly dead and ignorant, is to be an object of pity as well as blame. But to know the truth and yet "halt between two opinions," is one of the chief of sins. Let it be the settled determination of our minds that if we serve Christ at all we will serve Him with all our hearts. Let there be no reserve, no compromise, no half-heartedness, no attempt to reconcile God and mammon in our Christianity. Let us resolve, by God's help, to be "with Christ," and "gather" by Christ's side, and allow the world to say and do what it will. The half-hearted Christian attracts none by the beauty of his life, and wins no respect from the world.
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, please show me if I am lukewarm.
Action Plan: Make a list of things that you think a lukewarm Christian does, says, or believes and compare that list to the Bible. What does the Bible say about you?
This devotional was taken from The Gospel of Luke by J.C. Ryle published in 1858
and adapted by Pastor Tim Lewis of New England Shores Baptist Church.
